NEWS YOU CAN USE. Maybe you saw these stories. Maybe you missed them, but these are among the pieces I’ve read recently that might help you learn how to write memoir, specifically a piece of short, first-person writing – an op-ed, or personal essay. On a somewhat regular basis, I’ll bring you news pieces I find provocative.
Here are some that get me going:
- Oh dear, we’ll need to start s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g things a lot sooner.
- This is almost too beautiful to believe.
- Unnatural acts, did you say? I think not.
- Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- This is such very bad news.
- I don’t care how old – or dead — he is, I still don’t trust him.
Surely you have something to write using one of these as your news peg.
Looking for inspiration or guidance on how to write a personal essay? Look at my categories for NPR essays, parenting essays and several other topics. All of the pieces there have been published, or have aired on the radio. Pressed for time? Go on, check out the interactive calendar, where other news pegs give you the option to work weeks in advance. So write on.
